Grassy Narrows First Nation sues Ontario, Canada over mercury contamination
Global News
A northern Ontario First Nation is suing the governments of Ontario and Canada over ongoing mercury contamination in a river system that flows through its territory.
A northern Ontario First Nation that has been plagued by mercury poisoning for decades said Tuesday it is suing the governments of Ontario and Canada over mercury contamination in a river system that flows through its territory.
Grassy Narrows First Nation alleges the governments breached their obligations by failing to ensure the community could safely practise its right to fish.
The lawsuit alleges the governments first allowed the English-Wabigoon river system to be contaminated, then failed to remediate it, all while authorizing industrial activities that worsened the harm.
Mercury is harmful to humans who eat contaminated fish, and the people of Grassy Narrows fish to eat, earn a livelihood and maintain their way of life, according to the statement of claim.
Speaking on the steps of a downtown Toronto courthouse Tuesday, Grassy Narrows Chief Rudy Turtle said he believes the issue would have been handled very differently if it had affected a different region and population.
“We’re not looked at as important because there’s very few of us,” he said of the community, of which roughly 1,000 members live on reserve.
It has come to a point where legal action is necessary, he added.
“We are doing this for our children, our grandchildren. There’s a new generation of young people that are being born every day. And they are being born to a contaminated river with contaminated fish,” the chief said.